Rain brings temporary relief to Indonesian city amid fire haze crisis

Residents and firefighters in Palangkaraya, Indonesia, celebrated as rain arrived after months of toxic haze caused by wildfires. The city, the capital of Central Kalimantan province, has been suffering from severe air pollution since August.

Firefighters and volunteers expressed relief as rainfall provided a temporary reprieve. One firefighter described the moment as one of gratitude, thanking God for the rain after prolonged dry conditions.

Health officials reported over 11,000 cases of respiratory infections in the city during the crisis. The air quality index in Palangkaraya reached 4,000 this month, more than 13 times the hazardous threshold set by the environment ministry.

The World Health Organization has warned that exposure to high levels of PM2.5 particles in the air increases the risk of illness and premature death. Residents like Muhammad Jihan Alwi used the rain to resume outdoor activities, such as jogging, for the first time in months.

Despite the improvement, officials caution that the situation is not over. The BMKG climatology agency warned that dry weather and potential wildfires could return. The BNPB disaster agency is using 61 planes and helicopters for cloud seeding and water bombing across six provinces.

BMKG official Tri Handoko Seto noted that PM2.5 levels in Palangkaraya have started to decline with the rain, though the air remains in the 'unhealthy' category. Efforts to encourage more rainfall through cloud seeding continue, with hopes of thoroughly wetting burned peat areas.

Authorities are also pursuing legal action against individuals and corporations suspected of starting the fires. At least 11 people have died fighting the wildfires, including a forest ranger killed by a falling tree in South Sulawesi.